Whispering Specter MTG Card

Disrupts opponent strategies with forced discards, gaining you a pivotal advantage in card control. Resource acceleration through pressure on opponent’s hand strengthens your board position advancement. Instant-speed spell synergies enhance Whispering Specter’s impact during combat, causing crucial disruptions.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Specter
Abilities	Flying,Infect
Released	2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set name	New Phyrexia
Set code	NPH
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	77
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jason Felix

Text of card

Flying Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.) Whenever Whispering Specter deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice it. If you do, that player discards a card for each poison counter he or she has.

Cards like Whispering Specter

Whispering Specter emerges as an intriguing option within the spectrum of flying threats in Magic: The Gathering. A card that it often finds itself compared to is Vampire Nighthawk, a creature that not only flies but also brings lifelink and deathtouch to the table. While Vampire Nighthawk offers more combat utility, Whispering Specter excels in disruption, forcing card sacrifices when it deals combat damage to a player.

In addition, there’s a thematic parallel to Hypnotic Specter, a notorious disruptor from the game’s early history. Hypnotic Specter’s ability to cause a random discard operates differently from Whispering Specter’s targeted discard upon dealing damage, which can be amplified by sacrificing it. Both serve the strategy of diminishing an opponent’s resources, yet they do so through varying methods proactive versus incidental discard.

Although these similar cards find their strengths in different aspects of gameplay, Whispering Specter stands out with its ability to impact an opponent’s hand size and strategy significantly. It’s a testament to its value within a deck that seeks to dismantle an opponent’s plan before it unfolds.

Cards similar to Whispering Specter by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whispering Specter can potentially give you the upper hand by forcing multiple discards from your opponent, disrupting their strategies while you maintain card superiority.

Resource Acceleration: This card, by pressuring your opponent’s hand, indirectly accelerates your resource advantage. With fewer resources, your opponent will struggle to answer your threats, allowing you to advance your board position faster.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Whispering Specter can benefit from instant-speed spells and abilities that make it unblockable or pump its power before damage, leading to a significant impact from its triggered ability.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Whispering Specter requires a discard when it deals combat damage, which can sometimes backfire. If your opponent has a strategy to benefit from discarding, you could unintentionally give them an advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost includes two black mana symbols, making it less flexible for multicolored decks and potentially difficult to cast on curve outside of mono-black or heavily black-focused decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its mana cost of three isn’t exorbitant, Whispering Specter also competes with other three-cost creatures and spells that may provide more immediate impact or versatility on the battlefield.

Reasons to Include Whispering Specter in Your Collection

Versatility: Whispering Specter can slip into a variety of decks thanks to its evasion skill in the form of flying. It can serve both offensive and defensive strategies, making it a flexible addition to any collection.

Combo Potential: This card has unique synergy with proliferate and discard mechanics. When Whispering Specter deals combat damage to a player, its infect ability allows you to sacrifice it and force that player to discard a number of cards equal to the number of poison counters they have, potentially devastating your opponent’s hand when timed correctly.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where slow, control-oriented decks prevail, Whispering Specter can be a significant threat. Its ability to deliver poison counters and disrupt opponent’s strategies can provide a critical edge in the current meta.

How to Beat Whispering Specter

Whispering Specter is a unique card that blends evasion with a potentially game-altering infect ability. Flying allows it to soar over many blockers, while infect turns damage into poison counters. After dealing combat damage to a player, Whispering Specter offers the chance to sacrifice it and force that same player to discard cards equivalent to the number of poison counters they have.

Countering this airborne threat might seem tough, but there are effective strategies. Removal spells that don’t target, like board wipes, are reliable solutions. Cards such as Wrath of God or Doomskar bypass the need to target and destroy all creatures indiscriminately. For those relying on blue, bounce spells can return Whispering Specter to hand before it deals damage, stalling the infect and discard combo.

Alternatively, simply blocking it with a creature that has reach or other flying creatures can neutralize the Specter’s offense. With the right preparation and response, Whispering Specter becomes less of a specter haunting your game and more a manageable part of the challenge that is Magic the Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whispering Specter MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Whispering Specter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Whispering Specter has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Whispering Specter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2011-06-01	You choose whether or not to sacrifice Whispering Specter, and the number of poison counters the player has is counted, when the triggered ability resolves.